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Landscapes of the Metropolis of Death
Readalongs
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Landscapes of the Metropolis of Death: Reflections on Memory and Imagination (Gill, Diane S. & Jenny)
I own this one and would like to join in.
That's great Jenny. How about we start on 15th April? That gives us a chance to get on with Descartes prior to that. Oh, Diane, pleased you can join us.
Sounds like a plan! ;)
The 15th it is then.The book itself is quite short. I think it has 12 chapters, so I'm intending to read a couple of chapters each day. I don't want to read it in one sitting and have no time to reflect on it.
Can you add Diane to the title?
I am not sure of joining. But I will be following the discussion(s) in this thread.
Dhanaraj wrote: "I am not sure of joining. But I will be following the discussion(s) in this thread."That's nice, Dhanarah.
I'll follow your lead on this. A couple of chapters each day sounds like a good plan.
Sounds good to me.
I'm getting myself sorted for starting this readalong tomorrow. I've come across this article about Otto Dov Kulka:http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014...
I've started reading on a break today and I realized (and could have known before) that this book is going to be incredibly hard to digest. I was walking from job to job in some kind of a trance after chapter one. thank you for the link Gill, will look at it when back on Wednesday.
Did I say that the other book I'm reading at the moment The Forty Days of Musa Dagh is about the Armenian genocide of 1915? Although that is a fictionalized account, there are so many similarities eg (view spoiler).Other thoughts re Chapter 2 (view spoiler)
It felt much easier to discuss The Book
Thief than this book. In a way it feels disrespectful to what happened, yet I'm sure Kulka would think it's OK for us to have this discussion.
I too note the dispassionate way he writes about these terrible things. The bodies against the white snow, chilling. I think he would be pleased that we are discussing this, that people keep learning, never forgetting. I just started Chapter 2, and yes the introduction was interesting.
Interestingly I think it is the dispassionate way that he writes that makes it all the harder for me to stomache. I had a conversation about this with Dhanaraj concerning Independent People where a I felt similar, though obviously those two books have very little in common otherwise.What strikes me about the beginning of the book and the description of the first few days in the camp is how even the atrocious reality of life in a death camp can turn into 'daily life' and in something that may have produced memories it's 'holder' is fond of. Not the dead bodies, not the smoke from the chimney, but even there they had games, they learned, they joked. Some things - as Gill pointed out - just go on.
In chapter two: I thought his description of smoke climbing up from the chimneys into the night sky was beautiful. And immediately felt almost a little ashamed for thinking that.
Yes, it's odd isn't it, I feel as if I need to keep an eye on my reactions to the book and particularly 'good' parts of the writing. I get concerned that my reactions aren't appropriate.
I found the first sentence of Chapter 3 devastating in its matter-of-factness.Returning to Chapter 2, it's interesting about how the experience was different for Kulka as a youth,compared to the adults in Auschwitz.
about chapter 2: very much liked to read about the Beethoven episode. what is your theory? Sarcasm or optimism on Imre's part?
Following your comments and I feel bad for not being able to be part of this Readalong. It sounds an important book.
This book really has your name on it, you'd like it a lot I think, but no rush!
"but no rush" - Thanks and it is comforting to hear. Lol.
Jenny wrote: "about chapter 2: very much liked to read about the Beethoven episode. what is your theory? Sarcasm or optimism on Imre's part?"I don't know, Jenny. I'd like to think optimism. That's a reflection on me though, rather than any factual evidence. What do you think?
I think maybe bravado, singing joy in the face of despair. The one thing that this has shown me so far is the immensity of the camp. I never really thought before, and I have read many holocaust books, on the pure size. His matter of fact tone shows as well as tells.
Gill wrote: "Jenny wrote: "about chapter 2: very much liked to read about the Beethoven episode. what is your theory? Sarcasm or optimism on Imre's part?"I don't know, Jenny. I'd like to think optimism. That'..."
I am unsure to be honest. I want to think 'optimism' but my first association was 'Arbeit macht frei' (labour liberates) that frames the gate entrance of Auschwitz. I've always known it to be there from the pictures but I remember that standing in front of it was like a icy slap in the gut for it's brutal cynicism. So children singing or playing 'Freude schöner Götterfunken' in Auschwitz initially hit a similar note for me, but I much prefer to view it as optimism or the idea that if you can remember and hold on to beauty in the midst of what seems like men-build hell it hasn't fully taken hold of you yet and maybe never fully will.
By the way: I am in awe with this book.
Yes, I've been thinking about the singing again, and I think maybe it's the choirmaster determined to show/ remember/ hold on to the culture and beauty of the world, even in such dire circumstances.
I agree with that view. I too am in awe, taking apart his memories like that, and he was just a child when he witnessed all these horrible things. I think maybe as a child the Spector of death was just everywhere in those camps and this effected him deeply. I read In Paradise not too long ago and it was a group of survivors, journalists and others taking part Ina retreat for reflection and understanding at Auschwitz. Some of the survivors felt they were being judged for surviving because if they survived what horrible things did they have had to do?
Interesting concept.
@ Diana S : "If they survived what horrible things they have to do?"Reading that I just thought out Primo Levi's SURVIVAL IN AUSCHWITZ/IF THIS IS A MAN for it speaks of it.
I have never read that one but I do own his If Not Now, When?. Have you read that. I don't know after this one I may have to leave Germany for a while, at least the Holocaust part of it.
I haven't read that one. But you can read any book by Primo Levi for he is a good writer. To ba away from holocaust is one of the reasons why I did not join the Readalong. But I will surely read it later. By the way, I would highly recommend the P. Levi book that I had mentioned earlier.
Yes, I've also been thinking of Primo Levi as I read this book, about how he said about the guilt of the survivors. He write in a very different style, perhaps you could call it more literary. Kulka is very factual at first glance, although it include some unbelievably poetic parts. (And the chapter I am just reading is 3 poems. How moving, and how important). There don't seem to be enough superlatives to describe either what happened or that Kulka has written and published this book.
The poems were very well done and yes very poignant. I will be starting chapter seven.
What do people think about the end of Chapter 4, where Kulka says about the immutable law having run its course?
So much to say about everything. Re chapter 8(view spoiler)I'm interested to see your comments about chapter 7.
Chaptern4, I took it to mean that once he had returned and walked in and back out of the ruins of the crematorium, when death was no longer a recluse, that the immutable law had run its course. What about you, Gil? What did you take it to mean?
The shoes, as always the pictures of this are chilling.Chapter seven, such poignancy when he related what happened to his mother.I find I can only read so much of this at one time. I feel the need often to look away, though I am always drawn back.
Yes, something like that. I think that all his life up till his return to visit Auschwitz Kulka was haunted by the idea that at some stage the law that everyone would die in Auschwitz, which he had escaped, would apply to him. He felt his escape was temporary and broke the immutable law, and would be reversed at any stage. By descending into the gas chamber he broke the law's hold on him. I wonder whether, after his visit, his dreams changed.
Diane S. wrote: "The shoes, as always the pictures of this are chilling.Chapter seven, such poignancy when he related what happened to his mother.I find I can only read so much of this at one time. I feel the nee..."
I know what you mean. I find the book emotionally shattering, but I am so pleased he wrote it. I keep leaving it but I keep re-reading parts as well.
In chapter 7, Just an instance like when his mother walked away and didn't turn and look back. And so much more besides. I am so pleased he found where she was buried. So much of what happened was random (including acts of kindness). For other holocaust survivors there would be no grave to find, would there.
Things that really stuck with me over the last few chapters: the sense of almost feeling guilty to have survived. The 'this is where I belonged'. Tracing the steps to the crematorium, through the camp over and over. Seeing yourself escape the seemingly inevitable but having to revisit that place over and over. A thought I had when reading: does this mean your stuck there for the rest of your life? In the moment of horror just before meeting your 'natural' fate of being killed? The idea of almost everyone that you knew being killed on the same day.
Him barely recalling violence, and how orderly and weirdly 'just' it all seemed to be.
The euridyke (Eurydike? I always get confused) goodbye between mother and son had me sobbing on a public bus.
The last bit of chapter 8: The blue of the Polish sky in '44. The memory of beauty in the midst of a landscape of death. wunderful lines. I wish I could quote but I am reading in German.
This so far to me has been the essence of the book weirdly and also what I've been most struggeling with. The beauty of his account. How he keeps pointing at beauty even in the most ugly.
Yes,yes,yes re the blue skies (see my message 35.)I think the comment re the immutable law having run its course, means that after revisiting Auschwitz Kulka was no longer stuck in the moment of horror.
Jenny, a complete side issue, I'd be interested to know your thoughts re Independent People, when you have time.
Following the discussions few things struck me.1. The Rule of the Immutable Law: I came across this concept elsewhere. But I can not recall where, may be in Christa Wolf's book. In the same book C. Wolk also made a division of 'survivors' and the 'living'. She rightly pointed out that those who survivors were just survivors and were not 'living'. They always lived in the guilt of being escaped when others met death and were constantly living with the sense of persecution. Stefan Zweg committed suicide after havin safly escaped to Argentina. And many of the survivors committed suicide (Primo Levi is another example).
About the goodbye between mother and the son: I have not read the book. But from your comments I conceived the scene. Reading it I remembered the scene from the film, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL where at the last scene the hero bids farewell to son and walks like a clown to his own death. If you have not watched the film you will not get the point. But then if you have watched you will know the scene and its impact. By the way, if you have not watched it, watch it in the first opportunity possible.
I agree with what you said, also that what he experienced was his own and he cannot relate to what others have experienced. It is own doorway, his own memories and thoughts.
Final sentence is very powerful and yes I agree with your thought about distance.
I've just finished reading. I thought the essay at the end of the book was so interesting in the way that it gives an outside frame to his inner lens of how he recalls life in family camp. This is a part of the history of the Auschwitz Birkenau that I hadn't been aware of at all. The cynicism of it is hard to bare.I am very glad Otto Dov Kulka decided - apparently after much encouragement - to publish what he calls his unscientific recollections. I can't find the proper word to describe what it felt like to read this book, how utterly impressed I am with his lack of bitterness.
Dhanaraj, like I said before: this book has your name on it. There's a little side note on the story of Job that I would love to here your thoughts on. His tracing of his past reminds me of the books by Christa Wolf that we've read and I wasn't even surprised to see him mention Sebald briefly in the notes at the end of the book. Thank you so much Gill for proposing to read this together!
And yes, I love LiFE IS BEAUTIFUL!
@ Gill: I was waiting to post my thougths for Independent people when everyone's is finished, but I realize just now: this is what the spoiler thing is for, so I'll do it when home again on Wednesday with my notes on the book.
Yes, I think Chapter 13 was written for Dhanarah!How odd the chapters are on Kulka' s dreams (and how many dreams run through the book). I guess there will have been times in the day that Kulka could avoid thinking about what happened to him, but his nights were full of it. And so often other events triggered memories for him.
Yes, I thought the essay at the end was very interesting. How strange it must be to find out during research something that starts to explain something from your childhood.
I'm also very glad to have read this, and to have people to discuss it with as I went along. This is a book that has changed me.
The blue skies that have remained with Otto Dov Kulka will remain with me also.
Just been re-reading a bit. Is the radiance of He that is refered to just before the end of Chapter 13, the same 'new light' that is referred to at the end of Chapter 10? What do you think?Also, I've not read anything by Kafka recently. Is the Kafka book that Kulka writes about in Chapter 9, 'The Trial'?
Yes it is that book and I have just pulled it out to do a re-read.
All About Books
Books mentioned in this topic
If Not Now, When? (other topics)In Paradise (other topics)
Independent People (other topics)
The Book Thief (other topics)
The Forty Days of Musa Dagh (other topics)
Should anybody else like to read with us, feel free to join!